Kate

It was Wednesday afternoon when Kate decided to go to Garden Greens, her local garden store. She made a premeditated list of things she didn’t really need to buy, but were essential for tonight. She grabbed some rope, about fifteen feet long, and a couple of cinder blocks.

Before she purchased her things she decided to look at the flowers. Kate loved flowers, any kind really, as long as they were vibrant and alive. Kate looked at the fox gloves, smelled the carnations; those were her favorite, and added a few of Lily of the Valleys to her cart. She bought a new vase that she knew her mother would just adore. She was going to send her mother the flowers with the vase later that day.
After she bought her gardening supplies Kate went to her favorite café, ordered her favorite meal; tomato bisque with a turkey sandwich. She savored every bite. After her meal she ordered her favorite cookie and ate it on the drive home, not letting even a single crumb escape her lips.

When she arrived at home she took the flowers out of the car, and left everything else behind. She prepared everything she needed to deliver her gift to her mother. She cut the stems of each lily according to the vases height and added the right amount of water. Around the neck of the vase she tied a satin black ribbon, on the ribbon she attached a note with the words “Mom” written elegantly in Kate’s perfect handwriting. The day before Kate purchased a large ivory box with a matching ribbon to place the lilies in.

It was early evening when Kate readied herself. Before Kate left for her mother’s place she took a long cold shower, and changed into neatly pressed clothes. She fed her dog and gave it a loving kiss. Kate gently picked up the box and skillfully walked it to the car. She placed the box in the trunk on top of the other effects.
On the way to her mother’s house Kate listened to her favorite songs, hummed the good tunes. Kate could remember lyrics and lines faster than you could blink.

Kate’s mother’s place was dark. No one was home. But Kate already knew that. She parked on the other side of the street. Kate got out of her car, opened the trunk and carefully lifted the box. She glided over the lawn and up the little two steps to the door. Kate left the box on the welcome mat, turned and walked away.

Kate drove for fifteen minutes going north. She was headed towards the Sea Bridge to look at the last moments of the sunset before it got too dark. Kate loved sunsets. The gold yellows, and the dark orange dipping into the black depths of the bay seemed romantic in Kate’s eyes.

Kate parked her car on the side of the rails. As she got out the sea air cut through her. She forgot her jacket at home, but she did it intentionally. The red sky above, with the ink sea below Kate took it all in. The smell of the bay was cold and salty, while the wind blew her hair mixing her sent with the beauty. Kate loved this, she loved all of it.

The sun was almost gone when Kate retrieved the rope and cinder blocks from the trunk. Beyond the safety rail on the bridge was a narrow metal ledge. Kate lifted the blocks over the rail and placed then carefully on the ledge, soon after she hoisted herself onto the ledge. Using her handy rope tying skills that she learned from her brother, she tied one end of the rope to the block connecting the blocks to the one piece. With a knife she cut the rope in half. Kate sat down on the ledge, which creaked under her weight. She tied both ends of the untied rope to her ankles.

Kate lifted herself up to stand. Looking out towards the bay the last glitter of sun disappeared into the black sea. Kate jumped off the bridge and into the crashing waves that evening on Wednesday.

But not before leaving flowers for her mother and a note telling her to bring those lilies to the funeral.